Tool for removing packing and other material.



J. H. LEEK.

TOOL FOR REMOVING PACKING AND OTHER MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1912.

. Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

INVENTOR WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. LEEK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TOOL FOR REMOVING PACKING AND OTHER MATERIAL.

1,040,361. p cifi t of Letters Patent Patented Oct. 8, 1912. Applicationfiled March 15, 1912. Serial No. 684,044.

locking theclaws either. in open position or in closed position.

In the accompanyin' -drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation o theimproved tool, showing the claws in open position. Fig. 2 60 is an endView of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, butshowing the claws in closed. position. Fig. 4' is an end view of'thesame. Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line a--a of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig.6 is a 65 view showing how the open claws are engaged with the packingpreparatory to the operation of the stems to close the claws in thematerial. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the claws in closed positionin the ma- 7.,0 terial with a firm hold thereon.

My improved device or tool comprises two stems 1 and 2, constructedpreferably of heavy steel wire, which extend side by side for somedistance, their rear portions being '15 separated to form a loop orhandle 3, the sides of which are connected together at the end of thehandle in the form of a spring coil 4." This structure may beconveniently formed from single piece of wire, which is 80 bent aroundon itself at its middle to form the coil 4 and the loop or handle 3, thetwo free ends of the wire being brought together to extend side by sideto form thesterns 1 and 2. Near their extremities the stems at 85 theirfree ends are bent outwardly from each other to leave a space 5 betweenthem, and the ends of the stems are offset laterally in oppositedirections and pointed, so as to constitute in effect claws 6, 6, whichare curved $0 in opposite directions, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, andwhich are extended obliquely or at an inclination with respect to thestems, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thus giving to the claws a spiralform. The stems where 95 they extend'side by sideare closely but looselyencircled by a flattened sleeve or collar 7, which serves to maintainthe stems closely side by side, but permits them to'be rotated or turnedon their individual axes 16 relatively to each other and to the sleeve.The claw ends.6, 5, are extended in opposite directions relatively toeach other, an by the turning motion of the stems, which is effected bytwisting the looped handle, the 105 claws will be rotated or movedrelatively to each other in the same direction and on axes coincidentwith the longitudinal axes of the stems, the twisting of the handle tothe left,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN H. LEEK, a citizenof the United States, residing at Brooklyn,'in the county of Kings andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTools for Removing Packing and other 'Material, of which the followingis a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanyingdrawing.

The object of this invention is to provide a device or tool fordislodging or removing objects or material, such for instance as piston,gland and like packings, which pack- 1 ings in use become tightlyembedded in the parts to which they are a lied, and which it isnecessary to remove rom time to time for renewal, repairs and otherpurposes. Such packings in use being subjected con- 20 stantly to steamor fluid pressure or like conditions, harden and become very tightlyseated, and their removal is attended with great difliculty,

-' My invention is directed particularly to the provision of a toolwhich may be operated to take firm hold on the packing or other materialto be removed, and by which their removal may be effected with certaintyand despatch.

In its more comprehensive scope my invention consists of a toolcomprising a plurality of claws or fingers suita ly supported andadapted to be turned relatively to each other in such manner that theymay be engaged firmly with the packing or other material to bedislodged, with the result that by pulling on these claws the materialmay be. removed.

In its more specific embodiment the claws- 40 or fingers are formed onthe ends of stems, from which they extend in opposite directions and arecurved or spirally formed, the stems beingextended side by side andadapted to be turned relatively to each other around their longitudinalaxes, with the result that the claw lingers will enter the material witha screw-like motion and will come together in the material and take afirm hold thereon, so that by pulling on the stems, the material orpacking may e readily removed. By the turning of the stems relatively toeach other as described, the claw fingers will be opened or closed,according to the direction of movement, and the invention furtherconsists in means for in Fig 3, operating to open the claws to the 58the material with a screwing motion and hold is secured on the materialand the latas well as an individual relative rotation ty and the minimumexpenditure of force.

Q tipeesei position of Figs. 1 and .2, and the twisting of In theaccompanying drawings and forethe handle to the right, in Fig. 1,operating going description I have illustrated and deto close the clawsto the position shown in scribed my improved device in the particu-Figs. 3 and 4. lar form which. I prefer to adopt, but it 5 In the. useof the tool the claws are will be understood that the invention isturned to open position, asshown in Fig. susceptible of such changes andmodifica 1-,by holding the sleeve 7 in the left hand tions in thedetailed construction .of the and twisting the looped handle to theleft, parts as will suggest themselves to the such action rotating thetwo stems within skilled mechanic; and it will be further un- 10 thesleeve around their longitudinal axes derstood that'the invention, isnot limited s and in. the same direction, and causing the to anyparticular form or construction of claw ends to separate from each otherwith the parts except in so far as such limita a rotary motion. With theclaws in this tionsare specified in the claims. position, the two sidesof the looped handle Having thus described my invention, 15 are forcedtoward each other by-the preswhatv I claim is: sure of the hand,whichwill shift one stem 1. A tool ofthe type described, compristo the sideof the other, and wedge or bind ing a fplurality of stems, each providedwith the same in the sleeve, thereby locking the an 0 set end, saidstems adapted to be parts with the claws inopen position. In turnedrelatively to each other and means 29 this position the ends of theclaws are en- I for guiding the stems in their movements. gaged' withthe packing or material, as 2. A tool of the type described,comprisshown in Fig. 6, and on being turned to ing a plurality of stems,each having an oil"- 25 proper engagement has in this manner been withthe longitudinal axes of the stems and secured, the pressure of the hand.on the means for guiding the ends in their movesides of the loopedhandle is relieved. The ments. handle is now twisted to the right,withthe 3. Av tool of the type .described, comprisresult; that the twoclaws will enter the ing a plurality of stems provided each with 30materlalvwlth a spiral screwing motion and an end offset laterally andextending obat the same time they will rotate relatively liquely withreference to the axis of the to each other about the longitudinal axesstem, said ends adapted to be turned relaof the stems in the directionof the 'screwtively to each other and means for guidinging motion,. andtheir ends will close tothe endsin their movements' I 35 gether deeplvembedded in the material, as 4. A tool of the type described, compris- 1shown in Fig. 7, and will take firm hold inga plurality of stemsprovided each with 1 thereon, the material being embraced in a curvedoffset end, said ends adapted to be the space 5lbetween the separatedportions turnedrelatively to each other and means of the stems adjacentthe claw points. To for guiding the ends in'their movements.

40 lock the claws closed in this position the 5. A tool of the typedescribed, comprissides of the looped handle are again forced ing onestem alongside the other, will, as

before described, bind the same in the sleeve 45 7 and lock the partsclosed. In this position the tool is pulled and the removal of thepacking effected.

From the construction described it will be seen t at the two claw endsby entering each other and means for guiding the ends in theirmovements.

6. A tool of the type described, comprising a plurality of stemsprovided each with a spiral end, said ends adapted to be turnedrelatively to each other and means for guiding the ends in theirmovements. 7. A tool of the type described, comprising a plurality ofstems extending side by side and connected together at one end, theopposite extremities of said stems bein provided each with an offsetend, said ofi'set loop in the body of the material, and be- -1ng lockedin this position, a very efiective ter may be removed with certainty andde spatch. In the action of screwing the points into the material, thereappears to beboth a bodilyrotation of t e stems in unison,

the ends in their movements.

8. A tool of the type described, comprising a plurality of stemsextending side. by

- of the claw ends and in the same direction as the bodily rotation,this action causing the claws to enter the material and close togethertherein with the maximum rapid- 11. A tool of the type described,compris- 15 in a plurality of claws. or fingers adapted to be turnedrelatively to each other to open or closed position, and means forlockin said claws in closed position.

11 testimony whereof I affix my signa- 2o ture in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN H. LEEK;

Witnesses:

HOWARD F. WHITNY, ELLA Voonmma.

